Hey all, just got in from a bit of a drive round with some mates. Ended up going on some really bumpy road/dirt tracks round some carpark, a lot of really deep puddles as well, went over everything slow etc and I'm pretty much 100% certain I didn't catch the bottom of the car on anything though some of the puddles of water caused a lot of steam. Was plodding along really slow in second gear, was on this road/dirt track for about 10 minutes, I pull up and notice the temp gauge reads 110, its hit 100 in traffic once before but usually sits at 80 pretty much all the time, never seen it this high. The fan kicked in at about 110 so I decided to leave it 10 mins, I then drive home which lasts around 20 minutes, probably averaging 40mph, and the temp gauge doesn't drop, constantly reading 110, pull up in an asda and leave it for 15 minutes to cool, go and drive the last 10 minutes home and it reaches 110 again.

Anyone have any idea what could be causing it, oil and coolant/water levels are fine, however my water/coolant needs flushing as its rust coloured but I don't think thats the problem as it literally only got hot after taking it along the bumpy dirt track so is there any chance some muck got somewhere (in the rad?) or if I bottomed the car (pretty certain I didn't) on something could that be the cause? Apart from the temperature the engine seemed to be running fine, just hot. Any got any ideas or anything to look for, fingers crossed when I get in it tomorrow it'll run fine and tonight was just a one off, doubt it though.

O ye and the water pump was replaced 6 months ago and the fan was kicking in fine at 110.

Edited 1 July, 200818 yr by Joel103

You'd be surprised at how much difference giving the engine a flush makes, did mine last week, it was absolutely filthy, along with a few other tweaks (compliments of the new love of my life - my latest engine guru ).

Check that your heaters are still running hot in the car (when turned to hot), if the water pump is dodgy they will be affected.

Sal. x

Try checking your thermostat, sounds like its sticking!!

replace the thermostat, drain and bleed the system and give the rad a good flush, put a hoes pipe in the top hose and let all the crap flow out through the bottom hose.

hopefully it should be running all good after :)

Cheers for the replies everyone, just got in after having a look at it, and unfortunately it doesn't look too good. I checked the water, and it was pretty much empty, last week when I last checked it was full :( . The oil was fine so at least it doesn't look to be the head gasket, I filled her back up with water and pumped the pipes on the rad to quickly see if I could get any air out, I then let her run for 5 minutes and she leaked a fair bit, can't see under her properly but I can safely say its not coming from the rad, water expansion thingy or anywhere round there, its leaking directly underneath the main engine block but I can't see where. Anyone got any ideas where it could be coming from? and whats the chances of me having damaged the engine when I was out in her last night, no water under her this morning when I got up, so it looks like it all drained last night while out, so chances are she was running for atleast twenty minutes with little water or coolant in her, temp dial read 110 at the time. Cheers.

O ye and its definitely only leaking when the engine is running, suggests its the water pump but this and the cam belt was replaced 6 months ago (about 3000 miles) and the heater in the car still works fine?

Edited 2 July, 200818 yr by Joel103

I'd say you've got a stuck shut thermostat, replace this before doing anythign else. Or at least remove it and drop it into a pan of boiling water and watch if it opens or not.

The water tends to come out of the overflow on the header tank when the pressure gets too high which happens when the thermostat sticks shut. Hard to tell where it's coming from as it spurts all over but you should have seen steam pouring out while driving.

Otherwise, it could be leaking from the pipe at the back of the engine block? You are the only person who can tell where the leak is coming from! look harder.

Cheers for the reply, doesn't seem to be the thermostat, had another look and more coolant/water has gone missing while the engines been off (and cold), no puddle or patch on the floor either so I don't have a clue where it went, still haven't been able to find the source of leak properly, looks like the weathers about to turn real nasty now. Think I'll just take it the garage tomorrow morning and let them have look at it. I'm just hoping I didn't bottom the car out on something last night, eek.

do you get alot of white smoke on start up?

and, when the engine is cold, i mean left for a couple of hours, when you open the header tank is it pressurised?